From the Dallas-Ft. Worth CBS affiliate:
http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_story_104170925.html (video included)
Cross Country Bike Ride Honors 9/11 Victims
A coast-to-coast bicycle ride honoring victims of 9/11 traveled through North Texas on Friday.
This journey is the creation of Tom Heidenberger, an American Airlines pilot who lost his wife in the plane crash at the Pentagon. His drive is born out of frustration with, what he calls, the slow pace of building 9/11 memorials.
The bikers started this symbolic cross country trip in Los Angeles.
Heidenberger is carrying a photo of his late wife, Michelle.
“I miss my wife dearly,” said Heidenberger.
Michelle was a flight attendant, one of 33 crew members who died that day.
“They were the first of the first responders,” said Heidenberger. “The first to be killed by the attackers, and at the same time, they were the leaders in the air. So, why don’t we go ahead through them and fund these three memorials?”
He joined with four friends to raise money for memorials at the Pentagon, the World Trade Center and Shankesville, PA. The memorials have been designed, but are not fully funded.
Organizers of this cross country bicycle ride are collecting donations along the trip. They hope to raise $300,000. So far, they’ve raised more than $53,000.
“Especially on this holiday weekend,” said trip organizer Paul Guttenberg, “when we’re focused on the notion of sacrifice, to realize how necessary that sacrifice is.”
The ride is scheduled to end on May 9 at the Pentagon.
